title: Synthesis and pH-dependent micellization of diblock copolymer mixtures.
abstract: This work focused on the preparation and the aqueous solution properties of hybrid polymeric micelles consisting of a hydrophobic poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) core and a mixed shell of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and pH-sensitive poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP). The hybrid micelles were successfully prepared by the rapid addition of acidic water to a binary solution of PCL(34)-b-PEO(114) and PCL(32)-b-P2VP(52) diblock copolymers in N,N-dimethylformamide. These micelles were pH-responsive as result of the pH-dependent ionization of the P2VP block. The impact of pH on the self-assembly of the binary mixture of diblocks-thus on the composition, shape, size and surface properties of the micelles-was studied by a variety of experimental techniques, i.e., dynamic and static light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, Zeta potential, fluorescence spectroscopy and complement hemolytic 50 test.
authors.affiliation: Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules, Université de Liège, B6 Sart-Tilman, B-4000 Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Butsele
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sibret
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fustin
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gohy
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Passirani
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jérôme
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jérôme
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D015941:Complement Hemolytic Activity Assay; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008422:Materials Testing; D008823:Micelles; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008823:Micelles; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C016240:polycaprolactone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols